REFLECTIONS TODAY

When the Twelve return to Jesus and report what they had done and taught during their mission, Jesus invites them to a deserted place to rest a while. Here we see Jesus’ great concern for his disciples—and later, for the crowd. Mark does not identify the place. What is significant is the character of the place: it is a solitary place for rest. Rest is a recurrent theme in Scriptures. It is a symbol of happiness and fulfillment. God rested from his work of creation and gave Israel the gift of the Shabbat, the day of rest. Jesus himself invites those who are weary and find life burdensome to come to him to find rest for their weary souls (Mt 11:29).
Pope Francis warns against the “disease of excessive activity.” Commenting on today’s Gospel, he says, “To overlook the needed rest brings stress and agitation. The time for rest, for the one who has completed his mission, is necessary, a duty, and should be lived seriously.”
Gospel • MARK 6:30-34
The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them.
When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.